Direction vehicle signal



Jan. 15, 1924. 1,481,130

J. R. GIDDENS. JR

DIRECTION VEHICLHSIGNAL FiIed Feb. 25, 1923 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 gwvwntoz Haida e725};

Jan. 15, 1924.-

J. R. GIDDENS, JR

DIRECTION VEHICLE SIGNAL 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 23

Patented Jan. 15, 1924.-

UNITED STATES PATENT. owe- JAMES R. ernnnn's, an, orMoBILnj ALABAMA;

- rmnorron vEnroLE'sIeNnL.

Application filed February 23,: 1923. Serial No. 620,682.

scription of the invention, such as will en- 7 1o .able others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to trafiic signaling means and its primary object is the provision of a signal to be applied to an auto- 16 mobilewhereby the driver may indicate his intention when about to turn and the direction of the turn so that the driver of a following or approaching vehicle as well as pedestrians, may be timely warned and thereby obviate a casualty as well as to facilitate traffic. I v

The invention provides asignal of the character aforesaid which is mechanically operated and connected with the steering mechanism so as to be positively operated and indicate the direction of turn with safety and without any care on the-part of the driver, since there isno extra part of any nature to be .manipulated outs'ide of the steering wheel, movement of the latter in suring a corresponding positivemovement of the signal whereby to designate the course of the vehicle whether straight ahead or to the right or left. d

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understood.

While the drawings illustrate anembodi-v ment of the invention it is to .be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may beresorted to without departing from the nature of the invention. Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application:

Figure l is a side view of an automobile provided with signaling means embodying the invention, parts being broken away, Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the operating mechanism,

Figure 3 is a sectional detail on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a'sectional detail of one of the signals,

Figure 5 isasectional detailon thel-ine 5-5 of Figure 2, p I a Figure dis a sectional detail on the line 66 ofFigure 1, and I v .Figure 7 is a detail view ofthe steering 0 arm and theparts connected thereto.

. Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the, following description and designated .in the several views of the-- drawingsby like reference characters. 05 The numerall designates a motor vehicle such as an automobile which is typical of the type of vehicle for which the. signal is designed. In accordance with the-invention,

it is proposedto provide twosignal devices,

the one located forwardly of the vehicle. and l the other at the rear thereof, both being con-' nect-ed for simultaneous movement and operable synchronously with the steering 7 gear. The signal devices are substantially alike, the main difference residing "in the attaching means, the .onebeing clamped to a standard A of the'windshield andthe. other beingattached to a rear fender B. The same reference characters are employed inthe subjoined description and in the at: tached' drawings to designate corresponding parts of both'signal devices...

The num ral 2 designates the usual steering. rod and 3 is anarmconnected with the 86 lower portion thereof to turn therewith. A tubularrod member '4: is connected with the arm 3 and is provided in a side with a slotv 5. A rod 6 is slidable in the member 4: and has a lateral extension 7 operable in .00' the slot 5. Therear end .of'the rod 6 is connected with a crank arm -8 fast to 2. vertical shaft 9; mount'ed in a bracket 10 attached to the vehicle. A longitudinal shaft ;11 mounted in the bracket 10 is geared to the vertical shaft 9 by bevel gearing 12. Contractile helical springs 13 disposed upon opposite sides of the crank arm .8 connect the outer end thereof with the inner end of the bracket 10, whereby to hold the 1 A crank arm 8 in neutral. or predetermined position, The steering arm 3 is connected by 7 means of arod 14 with the arm, not shown,

of a steering knucklein a manner well understood. A clamp 15 attached to the arm 3 has pivotal connection with the tubular member 4. r

' A flexible shaft 16 connects the longitudinal shaft 11 with the rear signal device. i A r flexible shaft 17 connects'the shaft llwith devices eachincluding a casing,

indicato-r' 22 which represents the human hand with the index finger er tended. The casing 19 carrying the indicator 22 contains an electric lamp 23 which illuminates the indicator. The lamp 23 of each signal device is included in a lighting circuit which -isadapted to he controlled by means of a switch (not shown) conveni'ently'located in a manner well understood. When the steer-' ing wheels of the vehicle are in line there'- with, the indicators 22 point straight ahead, but when the steering wheels are turned, the indicators 22 are correspondingly turned in thesame direction, thereby designating the direction i-n'which the vehicle is about to turn so as to give ample warning to the drivers of approaching 01" following vehicles. The indicators 22 are readily seen during the day, but at night they are illuminated by means of the lamps 23 which shed their rays of light thereon. r The signal devices are conspicuously located so as to be readily observed and thereby give efiicient service both in promoting traffic and preventing a casualty. The direction indicating elements, such as the indicators 22, having connection with the steering mechanism move therewithwi'thout requiring any extra attention 'on'the part of the driver and operate at all times to indicate the direction of travel of the vehicle whether straight ahead or to the left or right.

l/Vhat is claimed is: h

1. Traflio signal means for motor vehicles comprisingsimilar front and rear signal a direction indicator carried bythe casing, a lamp within the casing for illuminating the indicator, a crank arm having a limited sliding and adjacent the'other end to vehicle devices "to effect simultaneous movement thereof. I

2. A trafli'c signal *means consisting of a substantially horizontally disposed shaft, a signal operable by said shaft, a shaft dis posed "at anangle'to said shaft and in driving relation therewith, slip-connected rods attachable at one "end to said second shaft steer- 'in'g gearr V y 3. T'rafiic signal means consisting of a substantially horizontally disposed shaft,fa

signal operable by said shaft, a bracket having portions constituting bearings for said shaft, said brackets having spacedsubstantially arcuate portions spanning the bearingsa shaft disposed at an angle to said shaft and in "driving relation therewith and within said portionsfa. crank extending from the second shaft and intermediate said 1')ortions, and a driving cor'inection between said crank-and vehicle steering gear.

4. Traiffic signal means consisting of a'suhstan'tially horizontally disposed shaft, a signal operable by said shaft, a bracket havin portions 'constitutinghearings for said shaft, said bracket's'having spaced substantially arcuate' portions sipaiinirig the bearings, a shaft disposed. at an angle to said shaft and in drivingre'lation therewith and within said portions, a crank extending from the second shaft and intermediate said portions, a driving connection between said crank and vehicle steering gear, consisting of slip-connected rods and clamp to which one of said rods pivoted being directly attachable to the steering gear. V V In testimony whereof I afiix'my signature in reseace of two witnesses. I H

' JAMES R. GIDDENS,JR; Witnesses? p Om-m s O'L'S'EN', 

